Need to Be Encouraged?

IF ANYONE WISHES TO COME AFTER ME  

“And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?” - Luke 9:23-25

THE CHRISTIAN DOES NOT THINK

“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” 

- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish Writer and Scholar 

THE CHURCH IS ONE BODY

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST

"The Church is the Body of Christ, and the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. He fills the Body, directs its movements, controls its members, inspires its wisdom, supplies it's strength. He guides into truth, sanctifies its agents, and empowers for witnessing. The Spirit has never abdicated His authority nor relegated His power." 

- Samuel Chadwick (1860-1932) Wesleyan Methodist Minister

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT  

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

MOST COMFORTING THOUGHT OF THE HEART

"What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at the last day.  For each of us the time is coming when we shall have nothing but God.  Health and wealth and friends and hiding places will be swept away, and we shall have only God.  To the man of pseudo faith that is a terrifying thought, but to real faith it is one of the most comforting thoughts the heart can entertain."  

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

COMMIT TO THE LORD WHATEVER YOU DO

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." - Psalm 37:4-6

NOTHING TOO GREAT OR TOO SMALL 

"Nothing is too great and nothing is too small to commit into the hands of the Lord." 

- A. W. Pink (1886-1952) English Bible Teacher 

CLOTHE YOURSELVES IN COMPASSION  

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." - Colossians 3:12

FULL OF SYMPATHY AND COMPASSION  

"His is a loving, tender hand, full of sympathy and compassion." 

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

THEREFORE, THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNTAION

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1

WHO IS THE ONE WHO CONDEMNS?  

"Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us."  

- Romans 8:34  

IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9 

BECAUSE YOU CONFESS  

"When you get saved, you get saved not because you deserve it, but because you simply let God save you and because you confess your own poor sinful state and your inability to save yourself."

- John R. Rice (1895–1980) Baptist Evangelist and Pastor

FOR GOD IS NOT A GOD OF CONFUSION

"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints."  - 1 Corinthians 14:33

HE IS NOT A GOD OF CONFUSION 

"He is not a God of confusion, of discordance, or accidental, random, private courses in the execution of His will, but of determinate, regulated, prescribed action."  

- John Henry Newman (1801-1890) English Theologian and Scholar

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." - Jude 1:3

FAITH IS A LIVING AND UNSHAKABLE CONFIDENCE

"Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake."

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Religious Reformer

BE CONTENT IN WHATEVER SYTATE YOU ARE IN

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” - Philippians 4:11

WE MUST BE CONTENT TO TRAVEL UPHILL 

"The way to Heaven is ascending; we must be content to travel uphill, though it be hard and tiresome, and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh." 

- Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) American Revivalist

BE OF GOOD COURAGE

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

RESOLVE TO LIVE WITH ALL THY MIGHT

"Resolved to live with all my might while I do live, and as I shall wish I had done ten thousand ages hence."

- Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) American Revivalist  

GOD KEEPS HIS COVENANT 

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments." - Deuteronomy 7:9

HE WILL KEEP COVENANT WITH THEM  

"Those that set God always before them and walk before him with all their hearts, shall find him as good as his word and better; he will both keep covenant with them and show mercy to them."  

- Matthew Henry (1662-1714) Nonconformist Minister, Writer 

BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOM YOU DISCIPLINE 

"Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law." - Psalm 94:12

THE DAILY DISCIPLINE OF THE INNER MAN  

"All the great temptations appear first in the region of the mind and can be fought and conquered there. We have been given the power to close the door of the mind. We can lose this power through disuse or increase it by use, by the daily discipline of the inner man in things which seem small and by reliance upon the word of the Spirit of truth. It is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. It is as though He said, learn to live in your will, not in your feelings."  

- Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) Irish Christian Missionary in India  

BUT BE DOERS OF THE WORD

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." - James 1:22-25

DO WHAT YOU CAN AND PRAY

"Do what you can and pray for what you cannot yet do."

- Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Bishop, Theologian and Philosopher 

IF YOU HAVE FAITH AND DO NOT DOUBT  

And  Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." - Matthew 21:21-22

DEPEND UPON GOD AND DO NOT DOUBT

"When we dare to depend entirely upon God and do not doubt, the humblest and feeblest agencies will become mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds."  

-  A.B. Simpson (1843-1919) Founder Christian Missionary Alliance

DRUNKENNESS AND THE CARES OF THIS LIFE  

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.” - Luke 21:34

BEFORE A MAN DRINKS, HE HAS TWO HEARTS 

"There is a deep teaching in the Talmud: "Before a man eats and drinks, he has two hearts." He feels both his own hunger and an other's. Once he has eaten and drunk, he remains with only one heart, with thought for his own comfort. Instead of robbing the poor of poverty and the afflicted of the affliction which will constitute his future glory, see that you yourself are among the men with two hearts."   

- Richard Wurmbrand 1909-2001) Romanian Evangelical Pastor

THEREFORE ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

A HELPING WORD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

"A helping word to one in trouble is often like a switch on a railroad track an inch between wreck and smooth, rolling prosperity."

- Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American Clergyman and Scholar

PRAY THAT YO MAY ENJOY GOOD HEALTH

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." - 3 John 1:2 

ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF THIS DAY

"Enjoy the blessings of this day, if God sends them; and the evils of it bear patiently and sweetly: for this day only is ours, we are dead to yesterday, and we are not yet born to the morrow."

- Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) Church of England Cleric

THE PROMISE MADE TO US

"This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life." - John 17:3

THE CHORDS OF ETERNITY

"Every day we step on chords that vibrate throughout eternity" 

- Charles G. Finney (1792-1875) American Presbyterian Minister 

EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM

"To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” - Acts 10:43

GOD HIMSELF HAS GIVEN EVERYONE 

"It is beyond dispute that some awareness of God exists in the human mind by natural instinct, since God Himself has given everyone some idea of Him so that no one can plead ignorance."  

- John Calvin (1509-1564) French Theologian

LET A PERSON EXAMINE HIMSELF 

"Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup." - 1 Corinthians 11:28

BY SELF-EXAMINATION  

"Nothing will make us so charitable and tender to the faults of others, as, by self-examination, thoroughly to know our own." 

 - Francois Fenelon (1651-1715) French Catholic Archbishop  

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:23  

GOD LOOKS FOR FAITHFULNESS  

"This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God's way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness."  

- Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) Christian Missionary and Writer    

AND WHEN YOU FAST

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward."  - Matthew 6:16

FASTING IS LETTING GO  

"Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God." 

- Andrew Murray (1794-1866) Scottish Missionary, Writer 

HIS FAVOR IS FOR A LIFETIME

"For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." - Psalm 30:5

THE FAVOR OF GOD

"What is honor, and riches, and the favor of creatures - so long as I lack the favor of God, the pardon of my sins, a saving interest in Christ, and the hope of glory! O Lord, give me these, or I die! Give me these, or else I shall eternally die!"

- Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) Puritan Preacher and Writer

HAPPY IS THE MAN

"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." - Proverbs 13-18

THE HAPPIEST OF ALL CHRISTIANS

"I believe that the happiest of all Christians and the truest of Christians are those who never dare to doubt God, but take His Word simply as it stands, and believe it, and ask no questions, just feeling assured that if God has said it, it will be so."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher and Author

THAT YOU MAY BE IN GOOD HEALTH  

"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul." - 3 John 1:2

 BEGIN TO REJOICE IN THE LORD 

"Begin to rejoice in the Lord, and your bones will flourish like an herb, and your cheeks will glow with the bloom of health and freshness. Worry, fear, distrust, care-all are poisonous! Joy is balm and healing, and if you will but rejoice, God will give power."  

- A. B. Simpson (1843-1919) Canadian Preacher, Theologian

HE REVEALS PROFOUND AND HIDDEN THINGS  

"It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him." - Daniel 2:22 

LEARN HOW TO HOLD ON TO THE HIDDEN HAND

"It is in the deepest darkness of the starless midnight that men learn how to hold on to the hidden Hand most tightly and how that Hand holds them; that He sees where we do not, and knows the way He takes; and though the way be to us a roundabout way, it is the right way." 

- A.T. Pierson (1837–1911) American Presbyterian Pastor

HOLINESS DEPENDS ON FAITH  

"Faith refers to Christ. Holiness depends on faith. Heaven depends on holiness." 

 - Alexander MacLaren (1826-1919) President Baptist World Congress

HOLINESS IS LIKE A FLOWER

"Sanctification grows out of faith in Jesus Christ. Remember holiness is a flower, not a root; it is not sanctification that saves, but salvation that sanctifies." - Charles Spurgeon    

GIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THOSE WHO ASK FOR IT

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!  - Luke 11:13

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES

When all nature is at rest, not a leaf moving, then at evening the dew comes down -- no eye to see the pearly drops descending, no ear to hear them falling on the verdant grass -- so does the Spirit come to you who believe. When the heart is at rest in Jesus -- unseen, unheard by the world -- the Spirit comes, and softly fills the believing soul, quickening all, renewing all within."

- Robert Murray Maccheyne (1813-1843) Church of Scotland Minister 

AIM FOR WHAT IS HONORABLE

"For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man." - 2 Corinthians 8:21 

HONOR GOD WITH OUR FAITH 

"Sight is not faith, and hearing is not faith, neither is feeling faith; but believing when we neither see, hear, nor feel is faith; and everywhere the Bible tells us our salvation is to be by faith. Therefore we must believe before we feel, and often against our feelings, if we would honor God by our faith."  

- Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) American Evangelist and Reformer   

HOPE WHICH IS LAID UP FOR YOU IN HEAVEN

“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel." - Colossians 1:5 

FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS HOPE

"Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues."

- Brother Lawrence (1611-1691) Lay Monk in Paris 

HUMBLE YOURSELF IN THE EYES OF THE LORD

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." - James 4:10

HE THAT HUMBLES HIMSELF 

"It is an invariable maxim in his kingdom, that whosoever exalts himself, shall be abased; but he that humbles himself, shall be exalted." 

-  John Newton (1725-1790) Slave Trader Captain Turned Christian  

INHERITANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD  

"For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." - Ephesians 5:5

GREAT INHERITANCE AND REWARD HEREAFTER

"The promise to the Church is a promise of persecution, if faithful in this world, but a promise of a great inheritance and reward hereafter. In the meantime, she is to be a pilgrim body, passing through this scene, but abiding above."

- C. I. Scofield

ENDURANCE INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

- 1 Thessalonians 1:3

INSPIRATION IS A WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 

"All who are willing to accept the Bible as the Word of God recognize that inspiration is a work of the Holy Spirit and that the Scriptures would have been impossible apart from this supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit."  

- John Wycliffe (c.1328-1384) English Theologian and Biblical Translator

INSTRUCTION IS BETTER THAN SILVER AND GOL

"This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do." - Joshua 1:8 

I HAVE LEARNED

"I have learned to hold all things loosely, so God will not have to pry them out of my hands."

- Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983) Holocaust Survivor, Christian Writer 

THE INTEGRITY OF THE UPRIGHT WILL GUIDE THEM 

"The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them." - Proverbs 11:3

WALK IN INTEGRITY 

"If you take care of yourself and walk with integrity, you may be confident that God will deal with those who sin against you. Above all, don't give birth to sin yourself; rather, pray for those who persecute you. God will one day turn your persecution into praise." 

- Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman

NOTHING CAN SEPERATE US FROM TEH LOVE OF GOD

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

- John 3:16 

THE LUST OF THE EYES

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world."  - 1 John 2:16 

SATAN RULES MEN WITH LUST

"Satan rules all men that are in his kingdom. Some he rules through lust. Some he rules through covetousness. Some he rules through appetite. Some he rules by their temper, but he rules them. And none will ever seek to be delivered until they get their eyes open and see that they have been taken captive."  

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

WHAT IS MAN THAT THOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM:

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" - Psalm 8:4-6 

GOD BRINGS MEN INTO DEEP WATERS  

"God brings men into deep waters not to drown them, but to cleanse them."  

- James H.  Aughey (1828-1911) Imprisoned American Minister 

SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER  

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” - Ephesians 5:21-24  

THERE IS NO MORE LOVELY 

"There is no more lovely, friendly or charming relationship, communion or company, than a good marriage."  

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Priest, Theologian

FOR THERE IS ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." - 1 Timothy 2:5 

THE HEBREW WORD FOR MEDITATE MEANS  

"Meditate on what you read (Psm. 199:15). The Hebrew word for "meditate" means to be intense in the mind. Meditation without reading is wrong and bound to err; reading without meditation is barren and fruitless."  

- Thomas Watson (1620-1686), Puritan Preacher

FOR HIS MERCY IS GREAT 

"David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” - 2 Samuel 24:14 

NOTHING LIKE MERCY  

"Nothing humbles and breaks the heart of a sinner like mercy and love. Souls that converse much with sin and wrath, may be much terrified; but souls that converse much with grace and mercy, will be much humbled."  

- Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) Puritan Preacher and Writer 

GOD DID MIRACLES TROUGH PAUL

"God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them." - Acts 19:11-12 

THE GREATEST OF ALL MIRACLES 

"The greatest of all miracles is the salvation of a soul."   

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher 

GO INTO ALL THE WORLD

He said to them, “You are to go to all the world and preach the Good News to every person." - Mark 16:5 

IF YOU ENTER THAT PROVINCE 

“Brother, if you would enter that Province, you must go forward on your knees.” 

- Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) Missionary to China

IN THE MORNING O LORD, YOU WILL HEAR MY VOICE

"In the morning, O LORD, hear my voice. In the morning I lay my needs in front of you, and I wait." - Psalm 5:3  

EARLY ON THEIR KNEES

"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."  

- E. M. Bounds (1835-1913) American Preacher, Author, Attorney

MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO HIM 

"Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!"  - Psalm 95:2

THE REHEARSAL OF OUR ETERNAL SONG  

"Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song. By grace we learn to sing, and in glory we continue to sing. What will some of you do when you get to heaven, if you go on grumbling all the way? Do not hope to get to heaven in that style. But now begin to bless the name of the Lord."  

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher and Author

THE NATURAL MAN RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT

 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” - Colossians 3:5  

THE GOSPEL IS OPEN TO ALL

"The gospel is open to all; the most respectable sinner has no more claim on it than the worst."

- Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) Welsh Protestant Minister 

THOSE WHO ARE IN PRISON

"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." - Hebrews 13:3 

PRAYER FETCHED THAT ANGEL 

"The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel." 

- Thomas Watson (1620-1686), Puritan Preacher

THE PRODIGAL SON

"I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight." - Luke 15:18 

RESTORING THE PRODIGAL SON 

"Sometimes we are inclined to think that a very great portion of modern revivalism has been more a curse than a blessing, because it has led thousands to a kind of peace before they have know their misery; restoring the prodigal to the Father's house, and never making him say, "Father, I have sinned"  

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher 

THESE THINGS ARE PROFITABLE TO A MAN

"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." - Titus 3:8 

TO DRAW PROFIT FROM SUFFERING 

"Humility alone unites patience with love; without which it is impossible to draw profit from suffering; or indeed, to avoid complaint, especially when we think we have given no occasion for what men make us suffer." 

- John Wesley (1703-1791) English Cleric and Minister

GREAT WERE THOSE THAT PUBLISHED THE WORD

"The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it." - Psalm 68:11 

GOD WILL SPREAD HIS WORD

"Yes, it is a press, certainly, but a press from which shall flow in inexhaustible streams, the most abundant and most marvelous liquor that has ever flowed to relieve the thirst of men! Through it, God will spread His Word. A spring of truth shall flow from it: like a new star it shall scatter the darkness of ignorance and cause a light heretofore unknown to shine amongst men."

- Johannes Gutenberg (1400–1468) German Inventor, Printer, Publisher 

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." - Matthew 5:8 

BECOME PURE IN HEART 

"Become pure in heart. The pure in heart shall see God. Here, then, is one opening for soul-culture--the avenue through purity of heart to the spiritual seeing of God."  

- Henry Drummond (1851-1897) Scottish Evangelist, Biologist  

THE LORD WILL FULFILL HIS PURPOSE FOR ME

"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands." - Psalm 138:8 

GOD'S PURPOSE IN PROMISING TO REWARD

"God's purpose in promising to reward with heavenly and eternal honors the faithful service of His saints is to win them from the pursuit of earthly riches and pleasures, to sustain them in the fires of persecution, and to encourage them in the exercise of Christian virtues."

- C. I. Scofield (1843-1921) American Theologian, Minister

FOR I KNOW YOUR READINESS

"For I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them." - 2 Corinthians 9:2 

IF YOU ARE READY TO PARTAKE OF GRACE

"If you are ready to partake of grace you have not to atone for your sins--you have merely to accept of the atonement. All that you want to do is to cry, 'God have mercy upon me,' and you will receive the blessing."

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4

BEGIN TO REJOICE IN THE LORD 

"Begin to rejoice in the Lord, and your bones will flourish like an herb, and your cheeks will glow with the bloom of health and freshness. Worry, fear, distrust, care-all are poisonous! Joy is balm and healing, and if you will but rejoice, God will give power."  

- A. B. Simpson (1843-1919) Canadian Preacher, Theologian 

REDEEMING THE TIME

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:16 

THAT WHICH DOES NOT COME IN YOUR TIME

"Cast not away your confidence because God defers his performances. That which does not come in your time, will be hastened in his time, which is always the more convenient season. God will work when he pleases, how he pleases, and by what means he pleases. He is not bound to keep our time, but he will perform his word, honour our faith, and reward them that diligently seek him."

- Matthew Henry (1662-1714) Nonconformist Minister, Writer  

THAT TIMES OF REFRESHING WILL COME

"That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus." - Acts 3:20 

WHEN I AM IN THE NEED OF REFRESHMENT

"Do you often feel like parched ground, unable to produce anything worthwhile? I do. When I am in need of refreshment, it isn't easy to think of the needs of others. But I have found that if, instead of praying for my own comfort and satisfaction, I ask the Lord to enable me to give to others, an amazing thing often happens - I find my own needs wonderfully met. Refreshment comes in ways I would never have thought of, both for others, and then, incidentally, for myself."

- Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) Christian Missionary and Writer

GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH 

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." - Psalm 46:1  

THOU ART MY REFUGE  

"That man is perfect in faith who can come to God in the utter dearth of his feelings and desires, without a glow or an aspiration, with the weight of low thoughts, failures, neglects, and wandering forgetfulness, and say to Him, 'Thou art my refuge." 

- George MacDonald (1824-1905) Scottish Christian Minister, Author   

HE REMEMBERETH THAT WE ARE DUST 

"For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." - Psalm 103:14

WE TALK ABOUT GOD REMEMBERING US  

"We talk about God’s remembering us, as if it were a special effort.  But if we could only know how truly we belong to God, it would be different.  God’s remembrance of us is the natural claiming of our life by Him as true part of His own."  

- Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) American Episcopal Clergyman

AND KEPT SILENT FOR MY COUNSEL  

“Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel." - Job 29:21

HIS SILENCE IS THE ANSWER

You say, "But He has not answered." He has, He is so near to you that His silence is the answer. His silence is big with terrific meaning that you cannot understand yet, but presently you will. 

- Oswald Chambers (1874–1917) Scottish Evangelist and Teacher 

THOUGH YOUR SIN BE AS SCARLET

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” – Isaiah 1:18

 ARE GUILTLESS IN GOD'S SIGHT

"It is a strange thing that the first principles of religion are so forgotten in these days. Do you know what you imply when you say that you are a Christian? It is that you are as guiltless in God's sight as Christ Himself." 

- G. V. Wigram (1805-1879) English Biblical Scholar

YOUR SLEEP WILL BE SWEET

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid, when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” - Proverbs 3:24 

WE SLEEP IN PEACE IN THE ARMS OF GOD  

"We sleep in peace in the arms of God, when we yield ourselves up to His providence, in a delightful consciousness of His tender mercies; no more restless uncertainties, no more anxious desires, no more impatience at the place we are in; for it is God who has put us there, and who holds us in His arms. Can we be unsafe where He has placed us?" 

- Francois Fenelon (1651-1715) French Catholic Archbishop 

THAT YE BE NOT SLOTHFUL

"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." - Hebrews 6:12

AVOID IDLESNESS

*Avoid idleness and fill up all the spaces of thy time with severe and useful employment; for lust easily creeps in at those emptinesses where the soul is unemployed and the body is at ease; for no easy, healthful, idle person was ever chaste if he could be tempted; but of all employments, bodily labor is the most useful, and of the greatest benefit for driving away the Devil."

- Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) Church of England Cleric

 WHAT WILL IT PROFIT A MAN?

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? - Matthew 16:26 

WINNING SOULS FOR CHRIST

"God stands in no need to our strength or wisdom, but of our ignorance, of our weakness; let us but give these to Him, and He can make use of us in winning souls."

 – D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

THE WAYWARD SPOUSE

"Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and wall her in, So that she cannot find her paths." - Hosea 2:6 

MARRIAGE SHOULD BE HONORED BY ALL 

"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."  

- Romans 7:3

STANDING IN THE GAP

“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” - Ezekiel 22:30  

WE TAKE OUR STAND AT THE CROSS  

"We take our stand at the cross and consent to be nailed to it, voluntarily, actually; to submit to the pain whereby the flesh dies; the hands are pierced that carnal work may no longer be done in the energy of the flesh; the feet are pierced that no longer we may walk according to the flesh; the brow is pierced with the thorn crown that our head may not any longer be held up for human diadems and fading laurel wreaths; the side is pierced that the heart may relinquish its fleshly energy and preference, and be occupied with God."  

- A.T. Pierson (1837–1911) American Presbyterian Pastor 

WILL SHINE LIKE THE STARTS FOREVER AND EVER

"Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever." - Daniel 13:3 

GOD WRITES THE GOSPEL IN THE STARS  

"God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars."   

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Priest, Theologian

BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO REMAINS STEADFAST

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." - James 1:12  

CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER  

"Nothing is more needed among preachers today than that we should have the courage to shake ourselves free from the thousand and one trivialities in which we are asked to waste our time and strength, and resolutely return to the apostolic ideal which made necessary the office of the pastorate. (We must resolve that) we will continue steadfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the Word."    

– G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945) British Evangelist, Bible Teacher 

A SHELTER FROM THE STORM  

"For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall."

- Isaiah 25:4 

THE STORMS OF LIFE 

"How often we look upon God as our last and feeblest resource! We go to him because we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven." 

- George MacDonald (1824-1905 Scottish Christian Minister, Author

SO SHALL YOUR STRENGTH BE

“And as thy days, so shall thy strength be….” – Deuteronomy 33:25

STRENGTH FROM THE LORD

“Let this one great, gracious, glorious fact lie in your spirit until it permeates all your thoughts and makes you rejoice even though you are without strength. Rejoice that the Lord Jesus has become your strength and your song - He has become your salvation." 

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher and Author

WHO CAN ADD A SINGLE HOUR TO HIS LIFE  

"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" - Matthew 6:27

CANNOT BE SATISFIED WITH THE THINGS OF TIME     

"God has set Eternity in our heart, and man's infinite capacity cannot be filled or satisfied with the things of time and sense."  

- F. B. Meyer (1847-1929) Baptist Pastor and Evangelist  

BEFORE A WORD IS ON MY TONGUE 

"Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely." -  Psalm 139:4

THE TONGUE SPEAKS WHAT'S IN THE HEART 

"Remember that the tongue speaks only what is in the heart."  

- Theodore Epp (1907-1985) American Protestant Clergyman 

THE NAME OF THE LORD IS A STRONG TOWER

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe." - Proverbs 18:10

IF WE ARE LIVING IN THE HIGHT TOWER

"Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the high tower of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be quiet from the fear of evil, for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the high tower of God."

- Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) American Evangelist and Reformer   

HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSION

"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5 

REMEMBER NOT MY TRANSGRESSIONS  

"Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!" - Psalm 25:7

CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." - 1 Peter 4-12 

TO ANYONE WHO IS UNDER TRIAL  

"We say, then, to anyone who is under trial, give Him time to steep the soul in His eternal truth. Go into the open air, look up into the depths of the sky, or out upon the wideness of the sea, or on the strength of the hills that is His also; or, if bound in the body, go forth in the spirit; spirit is not bound. Give Him time and, as surely as dawn follows night, there will break upon the heart a sense of certainty that cannot be shaken."  

- Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) Irish Christian Missionary in India  

THOUGH I WALK IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE 

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me." - Psalm 138:7 

WHATEVER TROUBLE COMES TO YOU

"Whatever troubles come to you, of mind, body, or estate, from within or from without, from chance or from intent, from friends or foes - whatever your trouble be, though you be lonely, O children of a heavenly Father, be not afraid!"

– J. H. Newman (1801-1890) English Theologian

BLESSED IS HE WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD  

"Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord." - Proverbs 16:20

TRUST CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOUR  

"There's a pardon for every sinner on the top side of the earth, but you have to call for it by faith before it becomes yours. In other words, you have to trust Christ as your Savior."     

-  J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) American Bible Teacher

 GUIDE ME IN YOUR TRUTH

"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." - Psalm 25:5

FEED YOUR MIND WITH TRUTH

"The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength."

- Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman

 GOD SENT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him." - John 3:17

THE CURSE OF THIS AGE

"The curse, of this age especially, is unbelief, frittering the real meaning of God's word away, and making it all figure and fiction."

- Catherine Booth (1829-1890) Co-Founder Salvation Army

THOUGH IT COST ALL YOU HAVE, GET UNDERSTANDING

"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." - Proverbs 4:7 

PEACE THAT PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING

"Those persons who know the deep peace of God, the unfathomable peace that passeth all understanding, are always men and women of much prayer."

- R. A. Torrey (1856-1928) American Evangelist. Educator, Writer

 SPEAK UP AND JUDGE FAIRLY

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." - Proverbs 31:9

IF PAID ON THE BASIS OF FAIRNESS  

"God dispenses gifts, not wages. None of us gets paid according to merit, for none of us comes close to satisfying God's requirements for a perfect life. If paid on the basis of fairness, we would all end up in hell... In the bottom-line realm of ungrace, some workers deserve more than others; in the realm of grace the word 'deserve' does not even apply." 

- Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) American Episcopal Clergyman

LIFE IS LIKE A VAPOR

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." - James 4:14 

TAKE CARE OF YOUR LIFE  

"Take care of your life and the Lord will take care of your death."  

- George Whitefield (1714-1770) Church of England Evangelist

THE LORD WILL DO GREAT WONDERS AMONG YOU

"Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." - Joshua 3:5 

THE WONDER OF SEEING MY SAVIOR  

"Next to the wonder of seeing my Savior will be, I think, the wonder that I made so little use of the power of prayer." 

-  D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

 A WORD SPOKEN AT THE RIGHT TIME 

"Like golden apples set in silver is a word spoken at the right time." - Proverbs 25:11

THE "WORDS" OF GOD AND THE "WORD" OF GOD

"The 'Words' of God and the 'Word' of God stand together; to separate them is to render both powerless. Any expounder of the words of God is liable to go off on a tangent if he or she does not remember this stern, undeviating standard of exposition, namely, that no individual experience is of the remotest value unless it is up to the standard of the Word of God. The Bible not only tests experience, it tests truth. The Bible tests all experience, all truth, all authority by our Lord Himself and our relationship to Him personally."  

- Oswald Chambers (1874–1917) Scottish Evangelist and Teacher

GO YE ALSO INTO THE VINEYARD

“Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, [that] shall ye receive.” – Matthew 6:7 

THE SWEAT OF OUR BROWS 

"The labor and sweat of our brows is so far from being a curse, that without it our very bread would not be so great a blessing. If it were not for labor, men could neither eat so much, nor relish so pleasantly, nor sleep so soundly, nor be so healthful, so useful, so strong, so patient, so noble, nor so untempted."  

- Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667) Cleric in the Church of England  

FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 

CURIOUS EMBROIDERY AND WORKMANSHIP  

"Godliness is the curious embroidery and workmanship of the Holy Ghost: a soul furnished with godliness is damasked with beauty, and enamelled with purity: this is the "clothing of wrought gold" which makes the King of heaven fall in love with us."  

- Thomas Watson (1620-1686), Puritan Preacher

THEIR WORKS SHALL FOLLOW THEM

"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." - Revelation: 14:13 

DO NOT GIVE UP GOOD WORKS  

"In times when you are sad and troubled, do not give up the good works of prayer and penance which you have been in the habit of doing. For the devil will try to persuade you to abandon them, and unsettle you. Rather, practice them more than before, and you will see how quickly the Lord will come to your aid."  

- Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) Spanish Catholic Noblewoman

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?" - Matthew 6:25

A CHRISTIAN SHOULD NEVER WORRY 

"The Christian should never worry about tomorrow or give sparingly because of a possible future need. Only the present moment is ours to serve the Lord, and tomorrow may never come...Life is worth as much as it is spent for the Lord's service." 

- George Mueller 1805-1898) English Evangelist and Helper of Orphans

LET US BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP 

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." - Psalm 95:6

TRUE AND GENIUNE WORSHIP

"The true, the genuine worship is when man, through his spirit, attains to friendship and intimacy with God. True and genuine worship is not to come to a certain place; it is not to go through a certain ritual or liturgy; it is not even to bring certain gifts. True worship is when the spirit, the immortal and invisible part of man, speaks to and meets with God, who is immortal and invisible."

- William Barclay (1907-1978) Scottish Scholar and Teacher

AND YEARS WILL BE ADDED TO YOUR LIFE

"For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life." - Proverbs 9:11 

A RULE I HAVE FOR THE YEAR

"A rule I have had for years is: to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. His is not a creed, a mere doctrine, but it is He Himself we have."

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART

"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13

WHEN YOU GO THROUGH TRIALS

“When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head.” 

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher